وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّطَرًا ۖ فَسَآءَ مَطَرُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ 58
Translations
And We rained upon them a rain [of stones], and evil was the rain of those who were warned.
Transliteration
Wa amtarna 'alayhim mataran fasaa'a mataru al-mundhireen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah sent down a rain of stones upon the people of Lot as a punishment for their rejection of His messengers and their persistence in evil deeds. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'mataran' (rain) here refers to stones of baked clay, as mentioned in Surah Al-Fil, which destroyed the transgressors completely. The phrase 'fasaa'a mataru al-mundhireen' emphasizes the severity and evil nature of this punishment—it was truly an evil rain for those who had been warned.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative account of the people of Lot (Qawm Lut) within Surah An-Naml, a Meccan surah. The context describes how Lot warned his people against their indecent behavior, but they rejected him, and Allah's punishment came upon them in the form of a destructive rainfall. This narrative serves as a warning to the Meccans about the consequences of rejecting divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The incident of the people of Lot is referenced in various hadiths discussing punishment for immoral behavior. Related themes appear in Surah Al-Fil (105:4) regarding stones of baked clay as punishment, which is discussed in Sahih Muslim's commentary on divine punishments.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that persistent rejection of divine guidance and moral transgression ultimately lead to severe consequences in this world and the next. It emphasizes that warnings from Allah and His messengers should be heeded seriously, as delaying repentance only invites greater punishment.